Florida Truck Crash Verdict: Jorg Bober Wins $143K Damages
Table of Contents
Case Background
The incident at the heart of the case had taken place on March 8, 2019, on Interstate 295 in Jacksonville, Florida. Jorg Bober, the Plaintiff, had been driving northbound and slowed for traffic nearing the Kernan Boulevard exit. Scott D. Johnson, the Defendant and employee of Pipeline Constructors, operated a 2018 Dodge Ram 3500 truck behind Bober. Johnson, driving under the company’s authority, had failed to recognize stopped traffic and crashed into the rear of Bober’s car.
Cause
The Plaintiff’s complaint rested on active negligence by Johnson, negligent hiring and supervision by Pipeline Constructors, and the dangerous instrumentality doctrine. Bober maintained Johnson was unqualified, distracted, and acted unsafely behind the wheel, which Pipeline should have known and guarded against. According to the complaint, Johnson violated traffic laws, failed to observe or react to road hazards, and managed the truck in a reckless manner.
Injury
Bober sustained physical injuries from the crash. He claimed severe pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and inconvenience. Medical needs included hospitalization, long-term nursing, and continuing care. Losses from the injury were described as both permanent and ongoing, with implications for Bober’s wage-earning capacity.
Damages Sought
The lawsuit sought damages exceeding $100,000, exclusive of costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees. Bober requested compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, and diminished future earning potential. He also claimed future damages due to ongoing impacts from his injuries.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The complaint listed three main claims:
Active negligence against Scott D. Johnson.
Active negligence against Pipeline Constructors for negligent hiring, training, and supervision.
Liability under the dangerous instrumentality doctrine against Pipeline Constructors for permitting an unsafe driver to operate its truck.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Jorg Bober
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Joseph V. Camerlengo | Gregg J. Anderson
· Experts for Plaintiff(s): John B. Roberts | Mark S. Frisk
Defendant(s): Pipeline Constructors Inc. | Scott D. Johnson
· Counsel for Defendant(s): J. Michael Traynor | Jessica E. Byrne | Loreyn Raab
· Experts for Defendant(s): Andrew Cannestra | Jeffrey Burnette | Ashraf Andrawis | James Fetchero | John D. Hegerty | Michael Patney | Mark Gould | Jake Feldhaus | Kevin Jones| Mark A. Spatola | Youseff Al-Saghir | Scott Wiedenmann | John Hoffman | Keith Mullenger | Vincent Giulano | Donald Ellsworth | Shahid Nasir | Christa Catalano | Alex Alonso | R. Spencer Stoetzel | Joseph Utz
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Plaintiff’s attorneys argued that Johnson had operated the vehicle recklessly by driving carelessly, failing to notice traffic conditions, and ignoring safety principles. They presented evidence that Pipeline Constructors neglected its duty by failing to vet Johnson’s record and not training him adequately. Defense attorneys denied the allegations, saying Johnson did not operate a commercial motor vehicle and had acted within the scope of his employment using reasonable care. They challenged the cause, nature, and extent of Bober’s injuries, suggesting other factors or parties may have contributed to the accident.
Claims
Active Negligence against Johnson
Plaintiff asserted Johnson breached duties to operate the vehicle safely, failed to keep a lookout, didn’t slow for traffic, and instead slammed into Bober’s Bentley. These acts, they argued, directly caused Bober’s injuries and ongoing losses.
Negligent Hiring and Supervision by Pipeline
Plaintiff alleged Pipeline hired Johnson without proper background checks or training, allowed him to drive the truck despite known risks, and promoted unsafe practices among its fleet. The complaint described a systemic failure in Pipeline’s operations and criticized its safety culture.
Dangerous Instrumentality Liability
Plaintiff claimed Pipeline was liable under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine for permitting Johnson, an unsafe driver, to operate its truck, which resulted in the accident.
Defense
The defense denied key allegations, stating Johnson had not violated safety standards and disputed that the truck was a commercial vehicle. They argued the Plaintiff contributed to the accident or failed to mitigate damages, challenged the causation and severity of injuries, and insisted that Bober’s losses did not meet Florida’s legal threshold for tort damages. The defense also raised affirmative defenses, including comparative negligence, collateral source set-off, statutory limits, and that the injuries weren’t caused by the crash, but by intervening causes or pre-existing conditions.
Jury Verdict
On February 14, 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Jorg Bober. They found Bober had sustained significant and permanent injury linked to the accident. The jury awarded $43,000 for past medical expenses; $40,000 for past pain, suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment; and $60,000 for future non-economic damages. There were no damages awarded for future medical expenses.
The jury determined Pipeline Constructors was liable for Johnson’s actions, confirming that negligent operation of its truck led directly to Bober’s lasting injuries. The total award amounted to $143,000.
In sum, the jury agreed Pipeline Constructors and its driver were responsible for the crash and Bober’s injuries. The verdict provided compensation for medical bills and the toll the accident took on Bober’s quality of life, both past and future.
Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com